Loading a container with layers of bottles

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a process and a machine permitting the rational filling of containers having a capacity of several hundred bottles. Bottles arriving upright in a line are distributed over four parallel conveyors. These bottles are pushed into upright cradles and the cradles are laid horizontally so as to obtain two spaced groups of bottles lying head to tail at two different levels. These bottles are seized with the aid of two spaced half-panels, each provided with suction cups, the half-panels being brought towards one another while being pivoted to a point above a container, in which successive layers of bottles at two levels are deposited.

[ Jan. 14, 1975 United States Patent 1 Thierion [54] LOADING A CONTAINERWITH LAYERS 3,802,154 4/1974 Dillon 53/247 X F BOTTLES [76] Inventor:

Michel Thierion Muizon, Primary Examiner-Travis S. McGehee J Attorney,Agent, or Firm-Eric H. Waters 51 140 Jonchery-sur-Vesle, France Feb. 15,1974 [5 7] ABSTRACT The invention relates to a process and a machine permitting the rational filling of containers having a ca- [22] Filed:

Appl. No.: 443,040

[] Foreign Application Priority Data pacity of several hundred bottles.Bottles arriving up- Feb. 22, 1973 7306236 right in a line aredistributed over four parallel conveyors. These bottles are pushed intoupright cradles and the cradles are laid horizontally so as to obtaintwo spaced groups of bottles lying head to tail at two different levels.These bottles are seized with the aid of two spaced half-panels, eachprovided with suction M 52 3 a 9 6 5 m 2 M w 6 2 B3 m5 mh C .r "a e "S 1m d t u .1 ME 1.] 00 55 .ll

cups, the half-panels being brought towards one another while beingpivoted to a point above a container, in which successive layers ofbottles at two levels are deposited.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,403,494 Livingston 53/142 X 12Claims, 8 Drawing Figures WWW...

PAIEMEU 3 859 772 SHEET 10F 5 PATENIED JAN 1 4l975 SHEET 30F 5 PATENTEDJAN 1 41975 SHEET UP UF 5 PATENIEB JAN 1 4 I375 SHEET 5 OF 5 LOADING ACONTAINER WITI-I LAYERS OF BOTTLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Theinvention relates to a process and a machine serving for automaticallyfilling containers of large dimensions with bottles.

These containers already exist; they are designed to receive 500 bottlesand sometimes 750 bottles or even more. The bottles are placed thereinwithout packing, laid together in a special manner which is explainedfurther on. v

Containers of such size and filled in this manner are sometimes intendedfor the shipment of the bottles. They are used principally in cellarsfor the production of sparkling wine, particularly by the Champagnemethod. These containers serve for moving entire batches of bottles,particularly full bottles, between the various production operations,with the aid of fork-lift trucks.

For convenience of explanation reference will be made to the example ofa container for 500 bottles.

In a container of this kind the arrangement of the bottles must complywith a precise rule. In order that the stacked bottles may occupy aminimum volume it is not sufficient to lay them side by side. In orderto obtain a minimum volume for the batch of bottles they must bedisposed head to tail, bringing them into contact with one another bythe incurved portion which connects the body to the neck. Thisarrangement is not achieved in one plane, but in space. If, for example,five bottles are imagined to be isolated, four of them are turned in onedirection side by side and the fifth is introduced in the oppositedirection within the four, with which it makes contact by the incurvedportion defined above. At the same time, each of the four bottles can beconsidered as a fifth introduced between four bottles turned in theopposite direction. In space, the five bottles of a group of this kindare situated at three different levels.

Thus, in a SOO-bottle container there are found at a first level 24bottles, half of which are turned in one direction and half in theopposite direction; at a second level are found 26 bottles distributedequally between two opposite directions; at a third level are found onceagain 24 bottles directed in one direction and in the other, and so on.

It is seen that the rational filling of a container is difficult work,which up to the present time has always been done manually.

The main aim of the invention is to provide a process and a machinecapable of automatically filling a container of large dimensions bydisposing the bottles in the usual rational manner.

SUMMARY Upright bottles are moved by a supply conveyor to a position atwhich a distributor directs them onto a plurality of pairs of parallelconveyors by which they are transported to cradles which overturn thebottles so that they lie on their sides on the cradles in groupspointing in opposite directions, each group comprising a layer ofbottles at two levels for disposition in a container. The layers areraised in succession from the eradles by a panel provided with suctioncups and are deposited by the panel one on the other in the container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a machineaccording to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section of a container showing bottles disposed at twolevels by the machine,

FIG. 3 is a top plan of a part of the machine shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 4 is a cross-section of a conveyor and ofa laying cradle formingpart of the machine,

FIG. 5 is a cross-section similar to that of FIG. 4, showing the layingcradle in a second position,

FIG. 6 shows in section a part of a bottle transport plate forming partof the machine, and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively an elevation and a transverse section ofa bottle storage and counting means which also forms part of themachine.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Before starting the descriptionit will be pointed out that in a cellar it is customary to utiliseconveyors on which bottles are moved in line in an upright position. Acontainer is to be filled from a line of this kind.

The operational reliability of the machine and its working capacity overa given period of time depend to a great extent on the process adoptedfor transferring bottles arriving in a line on a conveyor to theirordered position in a container.

According to the process of the invention there are first formed fourparallel rows of bottles, which in the case of a conventional containercapable of holding 500 bottles comprise two rows of 13 bottles each andtwo rows of 12 bottles each; a first group is formed which comprises arow of 13 bottles at the side of a row of 12 bottles, and a second groupidentical to the first. The bottles of the two rows of each group areoverturned to lay on their sides so as to face one another at twodifferent levels in order to obtain two groups of recumbent bottlesseparated by a gap. The two groups of recumbent bottles are seizedsimultaneously and moved to the container, while during this movementthey are brought closer to one another in order to obtain a bed of twolevels which is laid in the container. FIG. 1 shows a general view of amachine according to the invention for carrying out the process whichhas just been explained.

The bottles arrive upright on a conveyor 1, which is known per se. Thisconveyor leads to a distributor 2 of any suitable design, which with theaid of guides and turntables distributes the bottles between fourparallel conveyor paths 30, 300 and 40, 400. The length of theseconveyor paths is such that they can support a number of bottlescorresponding to the capacity of a container.

For example, for the purpose of filling a SOObottIe container there arethus obtained four parallel rows, two being of 13 bottles on theconveyors 30 and 40 and two consisting of 12 bottles on the conveyors300 and 400.

Actually, in order to maintain the output of the machine the conveyorpaths are each extended over a length capable of containing more thantwice the number of bottles just specified.

In their end portion the conveyor paths run alongside sets of cradles31, 301, and 41, 401.

The general arrangement is as follows. In the centre there are twoparallel conveyors 300 and 400 and then, outside the latter, there is oneach side a first set of cradles 301 or 401, a second set of cradles 31or 41, and a conveyor 30 or 40. Symmetry exists in relation to a medianlongitudinal plane, on each side of which there is formed a first groupof two rows of bottles on the conveyors 30 and 300 and a second group oftwo rows of bottles on the conveyors 40 and 400. Between the rows ofeach group are situated the sets of cradles 31, 301, and 41, 401.

The cradles of each group are so mounted as to rock towards one anotherabout horizontal axes situated at different levels in each group. Thebottles of each group can therefore be laid down, placing them head totail and at different levels so that they are in contact by theirincurved portions.

Separation of the bottles into two groups facilitates the operation oflaying them down, but it supplies a set of recumbent bottles which hasan empty median space and the dimensions of which are greater than thesurface available in a container.

The machine is provided with an arm 4 capable of pivoting in thehorizontal direction and of movement in the vertical direction. Theconveyor paths associated with the sets of cradles are situated withinthe zone of action of the arm 4, together with a station for loading thecontainers which are to be filed.

The arm 4 carries a panel provided with suction cups on its lower faceand composed of two half-panels 5, 6 capable of moving apart and towardsone another with the aid of jacks 7 and suitable slide guides.

When the two half-panels 5, 6 have been moved apart, they cansimultaneously grip the two groups of bottles by means of their suctioncups. During the movement of the arm towards the loading station, thehalf-panels are brought closer to one another. The size of the panel isthen smaller than the inside dimensions of the container. The panel cantherefore be lowered into the container and deposit the bottles thereinat the desired depth, in successive layers.

As already stated, the bottles of each group are situated at twodifferent levels. Chocks 8, FIG. 2, are therefore provided in thecontainer to support the bottom bottles at a suitable height.

FIG. 2 shows how the first two-layer bed is disposed in a container whenthe two groups of recumbent bottles laid head to tail have been broughtclose to one another. The base of the outer bottles is supported bychocks 8. Q

It will be observed that the relative position of the bottles in eachgroup, in respect of height, could be reversed by placing the outerbottles at a lower level and the inner bottles at a higher level. Theinner bottles would then be supported by chocks on the bottom of thecontainer.

The adaptation of the machine to this arrangement presents no difficultyand does not depart from the scope of the invention.

FIG. 2 also shows that the difference in levels h between the bottles ofone layer is substantially equal to one-half the diameter of a bottle.

FIG. 3 is a top plan of the four conveyor paths 30, 300 and 40, 400,particularly of their end portion which is associated with the sets ofpivoting cradles 31, 301, and 41, 401 respectively.

It is advantageous for each set of cradles to be an integral part,produced for example by moulding and having a succession of concavities9 and base plates 10. The base plates being separated by gaps 11.

Each set of cradles is supported along a conveyor track by end shafts12, with the aid of which it is possible to rock the set of cradles byabout by any suit able means, for example by a crank attached to a jack.

On the other side of each conveyor path, facing each set ofcradles, is apusher means 13. Each pusher means 13 may occupy a position of rest inwhich it serves to guide the bottles carried by the conveyor. Eachpusher means 13 is also adapted to be moved above the conveyor in thedirections away from and towards the corresponding cradle. The length ofthe pusher means corresponds to that of the row of bottles, and thenumber of cradles is equal to the number of bottles of the correspondingrow.

In order to ensure that the bottles enter correctly into theirrespective cradles under the action of the pusher means, they must becorrectly aligned on the conveyor. On the same side as the sets ofcradles there are therefore also provided elongated guides 15, FIG. 4,which are not visible in FIG. 3. These guides are displaceable in thetransverse direction and are provided with tongues 14, FIG. 4, adaptedto slide into the gaps l1 separating the base plates 10. In a firstposition near the conveyors the tongues guide the bottles on the latter,and in a second, remote position the tongues are withdrawn from therocking zone of the cradles.

FIGS. 4 to 8 illustrate in detail one example of construction of theimportant elements of the machine of which the general arrangement hasjust been described.

FIG. 4 shows in cross-section the conveyor path 30 with the set ofcradles 31 in the vertical or upright position. The vertical wall of thecradles is interrupted at the bottom of the concavity, a short distancebelow the shaft 12, thus making it possible for the tongues 14, whichstand upright from the guides 15 and which move in the gaps 11, to moveback to their withdrawn position.

On their bottom faces the guides 15 are provided with rack portions 16,each of which meshes with a toothed sector 17. The toothed sector 17 iskeyed on a shaft 18 parallel to the conveyor path, to the set ofcradles, and to the guides. An arm 19, or a plurality of arms if this isconsidered'necessary, is keyed on the shaft 18 and then operated betweena position in which it is shown in solid lines and in a position inwhich it is shown in dot-and-dash lines makes it possible to have theguide 15 and the tongues 14 between their second and first positions, inwhich they are shown respectively in solid lines and in dot-and-dashlines. This arrangement is also adopted for the guides provided withtonques for the other conveyor paths; it is very suitable forsimultaneous operation of all the guides by means of the arms 19, whichare connected to the same operating connecting rod (not shown).

The pusher means 13 are connected by connecting rods 20 to displacementmeans which drive them between their position of rest (shown indot-and-dash lines) and their end position (shown in solid lines) inwhich they push the bottles into the cradles.

The width of each conveyor track 30, 300, 40, 400

is equal to the width ofa bottle, as can be seen from the bottle shownin dot-and-dash lines, and the gap in the transverse direction betweeneach pusher means 13 and the tongues 14 of each guide 15 is also equalto this width, allowing for operating clearance.

This has the consequence that the bottles are held in exact alignment onthe conveyor, each facing its corresponding cradle.

The simultaneous displacement of the pusher means 13 and of the guide 15has the consequence that the bottles are reliably introduced at thebottom of the upright cradles, like the bottle shown in solid lines.

At this moment the pusher means 13 can be withdrawn and the sets ofcradles rocked to bring them into the recumbent position together withthe bottles which they contain.

The distance between two sets of neighbouring cradles 31, 301, theoffsetting in the vertical direction of their rocking shafts, or thesituation of their concavities in relation to the axes of the shafts aresuch that after the rocking the bottles lie head to tail, in contactwith one another by their incurved portions, and at levels which areseparated by a distance h, as can be seen in FIG. 5.

FIG. 6 shows in detail a part of the half-panels 5 and 6. The latter isfixed in relation to the arm 4 and it carries slide guides, such ashorizontal sliding shafts 21 which support the half-panel 5. The latteris provided with ball bearings and is moved by jacks (not visible inFIG. 6) which are fastened to the half-panel 6. Annular stops 22surround the sliding shafts 21 and accurately limit the minimum distancebetween the half-panels 5, 6.

Each of the half-panels is provided on its bottom face with suction cups23, 24, each of which can cover a fraction of the side of a recumbentbottle. The suction cups 23, 24 are distributed in the spacecorresponding to the bottles lying on the cradles; they are individuallyconnected to suction pipes provided on the half-panels. The suction cupscan atmosphere. connected at will to a vacuum source or to atmosphere.It is not necessary to describe them in detail.

In order to be able to operate the machine of the invention at a highrate and without incident, it is preferable to provide storage andcounting means on the portion of the conveyor tracks 30 300 and 40 400which precedes the portion facing the sets of cradles 31 301 and 41-401.

These means retain rows of bottles composed of the exact number ofbottles, that is to say 12 or 13 as the case may be in the presentexample.

These means will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 3, 7 and 8.

A shaft 25, to which the desired length is given, is carried by bearings26 along each conveyor 30, 300, 40, 400. At both ends each shaft carrieshalf-discs 27, 28 respectively, the useful part of which extends over180. The circular peripheral edge of the half-discs 27, 28 is bevelledand overhangs the corresponding conveyor in one of its positions, knownas the stop position. In another position, which is known as the passageposition and is offset by 180 in relation to the first position, eachhalf-disc completely clears the conveyor. n the same shaft 25 thehalf-discs 27 and 28 are rotationally fixed, with an angular spacing of180; in other words, when the half-disc 27 is in the passage positionthe halfdisc 28 is in the stop position, and vice versa.

. 6 At the same end the shafts 25 are provided with a rotationally fixedpulley 29 and a single belt 32 passes round the four pulleys 29, passingbeneath the central LII versely under the conveyors 300, 400 in the sameplane as the belt 32. Any risk of the slipping of the belt is overcomeby fastening it to each of the pulleys 25.

With this arrangement, a simple strokeof the piston of the jack 33 issufficient to rotate the four shafts 25 through 180 and simultaneouslyto change the position of the eight half-discs 27, 28.

During the rocking of the sets of cradles 31, 301 and 41, 401 thehalf-discs 28 near these cradles are in their stop position and retainthe bottles which the half-discs 27 allow to pass. The bottlesaccumulate, and when the sets of cradles, the guides 15 and the pushermeans 13 have resumed their original position the jack 33 turns theshafts through The half-discs 27 are inserted between two bottles andretain those which are 20 upstream, while the half-discs 281 allow thefree passage of the exact number of bottles intended for the cradlessituated downstream.

Through the judiciously designed process for the preparation ofsuccessive layers each comprising two levels, the machine of theinvention constitutes considerable progress. It carries outautomatically and at high speed a delicate task which up to the presenttime could only be done manually. By way of indication it may be statedthat a machine provided with storage and counting means as describedabove can pack into 500- bottle containers about 9,000 to 10,000 bottlesper hour.

The movements of the different parts of the machine are brought about bymeans which are known per se 5 and which are themselves controlled bysuitable detectors or by a general programme.

Equivalent variants are possible for the various elements of the machinedescribed, without departing from the scope of the invention. To give anexample, the arm 4 may be provided with slide guides on which the twohalf-panels 5, 6 can be moved simultaneously in the outward and inwarddirections in relation to a central position in which they are side byside in order to penetrate into a container.

I claim:

1. A process for automatically filling a container from a line ofbottles on a conveyor including the steps of:

a. disposing the bottles in parallel rows grouped in pairs the number ofwhich is determined by the number required for a layer of imbricatedbottles in the container,

b. laying the bottles of each group of two rows facing one another attwodifferent levels to obtain groups of recumbent bottles separated by agap,

c. simultaneously seizing the recumbent bottles of all groups and movingthem to the container while moving the groups towards one another toreduce said gap and obtain a layer of bottles at two levels,

depositing the layer of bottles in the container, and

e. repeating steps (a) to (d) to obtain successive layers deposited oneon the other in the container.

2. A machine for the automatic filling of a container 5 from a row ofupright bottles on a supply conveyor,

b. a bottle distributor operable to direct upright bottles from thesupply conveyor onto said parallel conveyors,

c. sets of cradles associated in pairs respectively each with a pair ofsaid parallel conveyors, each set of cradles being disposed between apair of said parallel conveyors and rockable between a vertical positionand a horizontal position to form a group of two parallel rows ofincumbent bottles, the cradles associated with each group being mountedon shafts offset so that the bottoms of recumbent bottles are displacedby about one-half the diameter of a bottle,

d. pusher means extending along the sides of the parallel conveyorsopposite the cradles and arranged to be displaceable over the conveyorstowards and away from the cradles,

e. an arm supported for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane and fordisplacement in a vertical plane,

f. a panel carried by said arm and provided with suction cups, saidpanel comprising at least two parts movable towards and away from eachother and each part corresponding to a group of two rows of incumbentbottles lying on the cradles, the panel parts when moved towards eachother forming a panel having lesser dimensions than those of theinterior of the container, and

g. a container-charging station located in the zone of action of saidarm whereby layers of bottles are successively laid one on the other inthe container by the arm and said panel.

3. A machine according to claim 2, wherein each set of cradles comprisesa unitary member having a succession of concavities and base platesseparated by gaps, and associated with said members side guides having asuccession of tongues movable in said gaps and mounted for movement in adirection transverse to that of the cradles between a first position inwhich the tongues are close to the conveyor and guide bottles thereonand a second position in which the tongues are withdrawn from therocking zone of the cradles.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the parallel conveyors are atthe same level and together with the sets of cradles and the side guidesare disposed symmetrically in relation to a general plane of symmetrypassing between two central parallel conveyors.

5. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the side guides each have alower face provided with a rack cooperable with an oscillating toothedsector, said sectors being rotatable by a single drive shaft.

6. A machine according to claim 2, wherein the panel comprises one partwhich is fixed in relation to said arm, the movable parts being providedwith slide guides for movement relative to the fixed part, and jacksbeing respectively connected between the different movable parts and thepart fixed to the arm.

7. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the pusher means and the sideguides are spaced apart transversely to the conveyor with which they areassociated by a distance equal to the diameter of the bottles, allowingfor operating clearance.

8. A machine according to claim 2, comprising bottle storage andcounting means disposed upstream of the conveyor track and situatedfacing the corresponding cradles, said storage and counting meanscomprising elongated shafts each of which is supported along a parallelconveyor with which it is associated, said shafts I each being providedat its opposite ends with half-discs offset by and capable of occupyinga stop position in which they overhang a part of the associated conveyorand a passage position in which they completely clear the said conveyor,said shafts being angularly movable simultaneously by a single drivemeans.

9. A machine according to claim 8, wherein each shaft has a pulleyrotatable therewith, and wherein a belt disposed transversely to theconveyors passes round said pulleys and under the two central parallelconveyors, the ends of the belt being fastened to opposite rods of thepiston of a jack disposed transversely under said central conveyors.

10. A machine according to claim 8, wherein the half-discs have bevelledexternal peripheral edges facilitating their introduction betweenbottles.

11. A machine according to claim 10, comprising four parallel conveyorsand four cradles associated respectively with four pusher means,constituting two groups each of which is composed at the centre of twoconveyors and then, outside the latter and on each side, a first set ofcradles and a second set of cradles each of which is associated with apusher means, the panel comprising two movable parts each of whichconstitutes a half-panel.

12. A machine according to claim 11, wherein said arm carries slideguides on which the two half-panels are slidably mounted, together withjacks to which the two half-panels are connected so that they aredisplaceable simultaneously.

1. A process for automatically filling a container from a line ofbottles on a conveyor including the steps of: a. disposing the bottlesin parallel rows grouped in pairs the number of which is determined bythe number required for a layer of imbricated bottles in the container,b. laying the bottles of each group of two rows facing one another attwo different levels to obtain groups of recumbent bottles separated bya gap, c. simultaneously seizing the recumbent bottles of all groups andmoving them to the container while moving the groups towards one anotherto reduce said gap and obtain a layer of bottles at two levels,depositing the layer of bottles in the container, and e. repeating steps(a) to (d) to obtain successive layers deposited one on the other in thecontainer.
 2. A machine for the automatic filling of a container from arow of upright bottles on a supply conveyor, comprising: a. parallelconveyors arranged to convey bottles in the upright condition thereof,b. a bottle distributor operable to direct upright bottles from thesupply conveyor onto said parallel conveyors, c. sets of cradlesassociated in pairs respectively each with a pair of said parallelconveyors, each set of cradles being disposed between a pair of saidparallel conveyors and rockable between a vertical position and ahorizontal position to form a group of two parallel rows of incumbentbottles, the cradles associated with each group being mounted on shaftsoffset so that the bottoms of recumbent bottles are displaced by aboutone-half the diameter of a bottle, d. pusher means extending along thesides of the parallel conveyors opposite the cradles and arranged to bedisplaceable over the conveyors towards and away from the cradles, e. anarm supported for pivotal movement in a horizontal plane and fordisplacement in a vertical plane, f. a panel carried by said arm andprovided with suction cups, said panel comprising at least two partsmovable towards and away from each other and each part corresponding toa group of two rows of incumbent bottles lying on the cradles, the panelparts when moved towards each other forming a panel having lesserdimensions than those of the interior of the container, and g. acontainer-charging station located in the zone of action of said armwhereby layers of bottles are successively laid one on the other in thecontainer by the arm and said panel.
 3. A machine according to claim 2,wherein each set of cradles comprises a unitary member having asuccession of concavities and base plates separated by gaps, andassociated with said members side guides having a succession of tonguesmovable in said gaps and mounted for movement in a direction transverseto that of the cradles between a first position in which the tongues areclose to the conveyor and guide bottles thereon and a second position inwhich the tongues are withdrawn from the rocking zone of the cradles. 4.A machine according to claim 3, wherein the parallel conveyors are atthe same level and together with the sets of cradles and the side guidesare disposed symmetrically in relation to a general plane of symmetrypassing between two central parallel conveyors.
 5. A machine accordingto claim 3, wherein the side guides each have a lower face provided witha rack co-operable with an oscillating toothed sector, said sectorsbeing rotatable by a single drive shaft.
 6. A machine according to claim2, wherein the panel comprises one part which is fixed in relation tosaid arm, the movable parts being provided with slide guides formovement relative to the fixed part, and jacks being respectivelyconnected between the different movable parts and the part fixed to thearm.
 7. A machine according to claim 3, wherein the pusher means and theside guides are spaced apart transversely to the conveyor with whichthey are associated by a distance equal to the diameter of the bottles,allowing for operating clearance.
 8. A Machine according to claim 2,comprising bottle storage and counting means disposed upstream of theconveyor track and situated facing the corresponding cradles, saidstorage and counting means comprising elongated shafts each of which issupported along a parallel conveyor with which it is associated, saidshafts each being provided at its opposite ends with half-discs offsetby 180* and capable of occupying a stop position in which they overhanga part of the associated conveyor and a passage position in which theycompletely clear the said conveyor, said shafts being angularly movablesimultaneously by a single drive means.
 9. A machine according to claim8, wherein each shaft has a pulley rotatable therewith, and wherein abelt disposed transversely to the conveyors passes round said pulleysand under the two central parallel conveyors, the ends of the belt beingfastened to opposite rods of the piston of a jack disposed transverselyunder said central conveyors.
 10. A machine according to claim 8,wherein the half-discs have bevelled external peripheral edgesfacilitating their introduction between bottles.
 11. A machine accordingto claim 10, comprising four parallel conveyors and four cradlesassociated respectively with four pusher means, constituting two groupseach of which is composed at the centre of two conveyors and then,outside the latter and on each side, a first set of cradles and a secondset of cradles each of which is associated with a pusher means, thepanel comprising two movable parts each of which constitutes ahalf-panel.
 12. A machine according to claim 11, wherein said armcarries slide guides on which the two half-panels are slidably mounted,together with jacks to which the two half-panels are connected so thatthey are displaceable simultaneously.